Botanicula

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,739 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • graphics
Botanicula Game Cover
A different kind of adventure, in a very different kind of world that wastes no time before growing on you.
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In Botanicula, players explore a whimsical world of plants and creatures, helping a group of tree buddies recover their home from invasive spores. The point-and-click adventure game features charming hand-drawn graphics, innovative puzzle mechanics, and a lighthearted, quirky sense of humor. With no text or dialogue, the game is accessible to players of all ages and languages.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,739 reviews
music287 positive mentions
replayability7 negative mentions
  • Beautiful and unique art style that captivates players.
  • Charming characters and whimsical sound design create a delightful atmosphere.
  • Engaging puzzles that encourage exploration and creativity.
  • Some puzzles can be frustratingly vague, leading to random clicking.
  • The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more.
  • Lack of a clear hint system can make progress difficult at times.
  • music459 mentions

    The music in "Botanicula" has been widely praised for its whimsical and immersive qualities, enhancing the game's charming atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the unique blend of soothing melodies, quirky sound effects, and interactive elements that create a delightful auditory experience, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the soundtrack is described as beautiful, engaging, and perfectly suited to the game's enchanting visuals and playful narrative.

    • “I adore the art, music, and themes within this game, and the devs have a specialty for creating amazing immersive atmospheres.”
    • “The music is beautiful and relaxing, and suits the ambience of the game perfectly.”
    • “The soundtrack is very pleasant, in particular all the small sound effects which stuff every level.”
    • “Some puzzles are harder than others and a few times the repetitive sounds or music for a puzzle were a bit annoying but they're meant as a distraction.”
    • “The art is bad (not 3D) and the music has dumb noises like Jon Arbuckle's accordion.”
    • “While the puzzles can sometimes be a chore (and sadly there is not much to the gameplay other than the puzzles), the soundtrack, visuals, and charm of this game knows no end.”
  • story371 mentions

    The game's story is characterized as whimsical and charming, often conveyed through beautiful visuals and non-verbal storytelling, which resonates well with players. While some reviews highlight a lack of depth or complexity in the narrative, many appreciate its simplicity and the emotional connection it fosters through its characters and setting. Overall, the story is seen as engaging and suitable for all ages, with a focus on exploration and light-hearted adventure.

    • “The story is wonderful, told well through the game's actions.”
    • “Botanicula is a beautiful game with a wonderful story, art, and music.”
    • “The story is simple yet captivating by the way it presents itself as you play.”
    • “One thing that makes me feel bad is the story of this game.”
    • “I really liked Machinarium's simple but motivating story that was consistent until the ending, but this game barely has a story aspect and even felt less motivating after all.”
    • “The story isn't really mind-blowing but it works for the game it wants to be.”
  • graphics350 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique, imaginative, and charming art style, often described as whimsical and reminiscent of children's animations. Players appreciate the beautiful hand-drawn visuals, vibrant colors, and the seamless integration of sound design that enhances the overall atmosphere. Despite some minor glitches, the stunning artwork and engaging character designs contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a visually captivating experience.

    • “The graphics are so cute and unique.”
    • “The artwork is unlike anything I've seen before.”
    • “Beautiful graphics, fun and varying puzzles with beautiful sound effects and music.”
    • “Sadly, I felt that the gameplay was pretty lackluster though it had pretty visuals.”
    • “If you have a large screen, those graphics lose their beauty.”
    • “Absolutely horrendous, an overly simplistic point-and-click side-scroller designed for soccer moms and mobile gamers; sure, it's aesthetically pleasing but there's nothing to it.”
  • humor172 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and creativity, featuring quirky characters, hilarious sound effects, and whimsical animations that evoke laughter and joy. Many players found themselves laughing out loud at the amusing interactions and clever design elements, making it a delightful experience for both children and adults. However, some critiques mention that the humor can be hit or miss, with a few reviewers finding it lacking in depth or overly reliant on gross jokes. Overall, the game is celebrated for its light-hearted, funny atmosphere that enhances its engaging gameplay.

    • “An absolutely captivating little fever dream of cuteness, funny scenes, and quirky little characters.”
    • “A charming and funny point-and-click adventure game set in a bizarre cartoony world of sentient mushrooms and magical plants which seems borderline psychedelic at times.”
    • “The little creatures and the funny sounds they make and the things they do brought me much joy.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
    • “I found the jokes to be dull and unoriginal.”
    • “The attempts at humor are more cringeworthy than amusing.”
  • gameplay120 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily a point-and-click adventure that combines simple mechanics with engaging puzzles, often requiring exploration and interaction with a vibrant world filled with quirky characters. While the game excels in visuals and sound design, some players find the mechanics repetitive and lacking in complexity, with a few puzzles being overly simplistic or occasionally frustrating. Overall, it offers a charming experience that prioritizes aesthetics and storytelling over challenging gameplay.

    • “It's a treat to look at and listen to, and the combination of point and click game mechanics and hidden object game mechanics makes its gameplay really fun.”
    • “The gameplay is point-and-click puzzle solving that is challenging but not difficult, and exploration is never dull thanks to adorable character design and colorful level design.”
    • “The gameplay is easy but the puzzles are medium challenging.”
    • “Sadly, I felt that the gameplay was pretty lackluster, though it had pretty visuals.”
    • “In terms of gameplay mechanics and replay value, there is very little since it's a point-and-click adventure.”
    • “On the downside, the ending feels very rushed and in several areas of the game, mechanics are introduced once, used once to retrieve a necessary object, and then forgotten about.”
  • atmosphere80 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and whimsical qualities, enhanced by unique art styles and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the blend of cheerful and haunting elements, with sound design that complements the visual experience, creating a relaxing and engaging environment. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as charming, quirky, and filled with delightful details that draw players into its imaginative world.

    • “I adore the art, music, and themes within this game, and the devs have a specialty for creating amazing immersive atmospheres.”
    • “The graphics, the design of the creatures, the music, and the overall atmosphere of the simple story of a band of five tree residents setting out to plant the seed for a new tree, a new generation of creatures, is just so well-tailored and harmonious, it's hard to resist the cute little details of the game.”
    • “Botanicula is a delightful point & click adventure game with an inspiring atmosphere and music.”
    • “The music and sounds in this game give it a calming yet sometimes creepy atmosphere.”
    • “Quite confusing and it involved a lot of random clicking to solve some of the puzzles, but the atmosphere and music is definitely worth experiencing.”
    • “It's quite short and easy to play through, with none of the puzzles too challenging, but I think this is a game you play for the atmosphere as much as the challenge.”
  • emotional53 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Botanicula" is overwhelmingly positive, with players describing it as a heartwarming, charming, and whimsical experience that evokes feelings of happiness and nostalgia. Many reviews highlight the game's adorable art, delightful music, and touching story, often leading to moments of joy and even tears. Overall, it is celebrated as a wholesome adventure suitable for all ages, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a light-hearted and emotionally fulfilling gaming experience.

    • “At the end, of course, I cried.”
    • “The art style, music, the fun-looking characters and their adventure made me shed a tear of happiness.”
    • “One of the most beautiful, heartwarming games I've ever played.”
  • replayability28 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with many players noting that while there are opportunities to collect creature cards and achievements, the short main story and limited gameplay mechanics result in little incentive for multiple playthroughs. Some players appreciate the charming visuals and humor, which may encourage revisiting the game, but the consensus leans towards a lack of substantial replay value once the main objectives are completed.

    • “Definitely has replayability if you didn't find everything or solve every puzzle, because each scene has its own quirks.”
    • “The main story is short, but there's a lot of replay value if you go for all the creature cards.”
    • “Gorgeous visuals, cute and sometimes hilarious animations and plenty to click on makes for a replayable game that will put you into a good mood.”
    • “Botanicula flourishes in imaginative creativity through humorously designed plant organisms that grow with the point-and-click adventure, although the simple quest for quelling the infestation of parasites prevents any replay value whatsoever.”
    • “Only a select few point-and-click adventures have replay value; unfortunately, Botanicula has none.”
    • “It's quite short and has very little replay value.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is characterized by charming and imaginative designs that contribute to the overall experience, though the main characters lack significant depth. While the team of characters is filled with heart and personality, they do not undergo substantial development throughout the game. The vibrant visuals and engaging audio enhance the appeal of the characters, making them memorable despite their limited narrative growth.

    • “Such beautiful character design, so scary sometimes but I love the feeling, sound effects and music.”
    • “The gameplay is point-and-click puzzle solving that is challenging but not difficult, and exploration is never dull thanks to adorable character design and colorful level design.”
    • “Meanwhile, the main team itself is an odd collective of friends who, while not given heavy character development, are filled with heart and personality.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be both a double-edged sword; while some players appreciate the simplicity and lack of tedious repetition, others find certain puzzles frustrating and lacking clear direction. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but may require significant time investment for those who engage deeply with its mechanics.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It does have its negatives though; the game can often become frustrating and tedious because of a lack of indication within the game of what to do.”
    • “It could have gotten tedious had it lasted much longer.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is marked by minor glitches and occasional frame rate issues, such as a capped 24 fps, which can be frustrating but are generally not game-breaking. Players report that reloading often resolves these issues, allowing for an enjoyable experience despite the technical hiccups.

    • “A little frustrating at times because of small glitches that make the game not work, but worth the frustration.”
    • “From my experience, there are two needs to improve: capped frame (24 fps) and random buggy click.”
    • “Encountered a few minor glitches in a couple of places, but nothing serious or game-breaking (reloading solved all).”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Users generally report that the game runs smoothly across various operating systems, including both new and older versions of macOS, with one reviewer giving it a performance rating of 9/10. There is a hope for further optimization from the developers, Amanita, to enhance performance even more.

    • “It runs smoothly and is engaging.”
    • “Performance: 9/10”
    • “I hope that the developers optimize this so that it runs smoothly on the new Mac operating system as well as the older ones.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization approach is non-intrusive, featuring well-designed advertisements that do not disrupt gameplay, allowing players to engage with the game without feeling pressured or lectured about spending.

    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, constantly pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
    • “The in-game purchases are not just optional; they are almost mandatory if you want to keep up with other players.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

Buy Botanicula

Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
3hMain story
5hCompletionist
4-9hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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